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Hanami Bento

JapanCentreJapaneseDinner,Lunch,SpringMain Meals

Serves 2-3

60 minutes

3.371435Rated by 35 people

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Celebrate the rich colours and produce of Spring with this special hanami (Japanese flower viewing festival) bento. Every spring Japan’s sakura cherry trees burst into blossom and attract millions of Japanese people to celebrate this riot of colour with picnics in the great outdoors, featuring bento lunches like this. Make your own hanami bento box and celebrate springtime.

How To Prepare

The day before start by preparing everything but the fresh fruit. For the ankake meatballs keep the sauce separate until you’re packing your bento box on the morning of the day you’re going to have your hanami picnic.

Similarly don’t add the prawns to your chirashi sushi until the same day. To be extra safe you may want to omit them all together or keep them in a chilled baggie or cooler until you’re ready to eat. We also suggest keeping your sushi vegetarian unless you’re using cooked or smoked salmon for your sushi rolls.

When you’re ready to go, prepare your strawberries and kiwi, as well as stirring in the ankake sauce for your meatballs. Carefully pack everything into your bento box and you’re ready to go.